29 injured after fire on Algerian passenger ferry

29 people were injured and at least 20 cars were damaged, during a fire that broke out on the passenger ferry ‘Tariq-Ibn-Ziyad’, which had started its route from Marseille and was heading to Algeria.

After the fire broke out, the 1995 built vessel was forced to dock in Alcudia on the Balearic Islands.

The ferry was transporting almost 470 passenger at the time, most of which were French and Algerian, as well as 137 crew members.

According to sources, after the fire people were treated for smoke inhalation and three were moved to a hospital, with non life-threatening injuries.

The fire now is considered under control but its cause is not known at the time.

Earlier this year, IUMI called for improved firefighting systems onboard boxships, with a report it published.

According to this report, IUMI welcomed the 2014 amendment to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) to increase the effectiveness of firefighting, the association believes more should be done.

Furthermore, it supported as best practice a proposal presented by the German Insurance Association GDV that sets out an improved concept for firefighting facilities on board a containership.

This proposal by the German Insurance Association GDV includes the creation of individual fire compartments below deck to prevent fire from spreading. These compartments would be fitted with fixed Co2 and water-based firefighting systems. Boundary structures would also be fitted above deck to align with the water-cooled bulkheads below and also fitted with fixed fire-fighting systems. In addition, the installation of enhanced fire detection systems is recommended, as Uwe-Peter Schieder, Marine and Loss Prevention, GDV noted.